Inter striker Lautaro Martinez has said that Inter are a more mature team now than they were at previous attempts to reach the knockout rounds of the Champions League, according to a report in the Italian broadcast media.

Speaking to Mediaset Infinity after the 2-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, via FCInternews, Lautaro Martinez explained that Inter have grown as a team and it now shows on the pitch.

“We are certainly a more mature team, you can see it on the pitch. We prepared for the match well, we had to win and we also played well. We are happy for the people, for the fans.”

Inter’s win on Wednesday night at San Siro meant that the Nerazzurri have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in a decade.

Lautaro Martinez was very aware of how important it was for the team to get the three points although there was a period in the first half where it seemed Inter could not break the Ukrainian side down.

“We did what we had to do: win. These three points were too important for us. We tried to score in every way, the door was closed. In the second half we found those two goals that gave us the three points.”

When asked what it means to qualify without Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi, Lautaro Martinez reiterated the new maturity in the team.

“It means that we have grown, we are united like last year. On the third occasion, we understood that the details count, today we are more mature.”